(PA) @ University of South Dakota @ University of Tennessee @ University of Tulsa (OK) @ University of Pittsburgh and Other Pittsburgh Area Colleges @ University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee @ University of Wisconsin—Superior @ University of Wyoming @ Valparaiso University (IN) @ Vanderbilt University (TN) @ Wright State University (OH)
@ Air Force Academy (CO) @ Ball State University (IN) @ Boise State University (ID) @ Brock University (Ontario) @ California Polytechnic State University @ Carthage College (WI) @ Central Michigan University @ Chico State University (CA) @ Colorado State University @ Cornell College (IA)
Let’s Get Started! Tips for Developing Local Outreach to College Students
By Rev. Marcus Zill
Do you have a college nearby? Have you
ever wanted your church to start a campus ministry there? There are a lot of things to consider when starting a campus ministry from scratch. Here are just a few:
1 Purpose: Prayerful Consideration
Prayerfully consider what you want to begin and why. Do you want to primarily care for Lutheran college students? Witness to unbelievers on campus? Engage students, professors and others who are antagonistic toward the Gospel? Establishing clear goals and objectives will help you target your efforts.
Get to Know 2 Research: the College or University
H I G H E R
H I G H E R
T T H H I I N N G G S S __ __
This ministry is difficult if you aren’t spending time on campus. So go there. Get acquainted with the campus. Take a tour. Spend time in the student union. Read the school newspaper. Notice where students congregate and what they are doing. Eat in the school cafeteria. Drink coffee. Observe. Drink more coffee. Take notes. Find out who goes to school there. Where are they from? Which academic disciplines are most important? Do most students live on campus or commute? What makes the college unique? Get familiar with the organizational structure. What offices might you need to work with? Is there a campus
ministry association? If so, how do you become a part of it? Are there international students? If so, how many? Where are they from? What are their needs? Investigate other religious student groups on campus. While you don’t necessarily want to duplicate what they teach or offer, you can learn from others.
Creating 3 Support: Congregational Awareness
While not everybody at your church will be directly involved, you will need support, encouragement and perhaps some financial assistance. Find opportunities to share the vision for campus outreach and results of the research that you have done so that the congregation can see the possibilities. Explore what help your District or other church auxiliaries can offer. You might consider hosting a mission festival and inviting a seasoned campus pastor or worker to teach your congregation about the challenges, opportunities and joys of campus ministry. Most people involved in campus ministry would love to highlight what they are doing. Invite them and ask them to get familiar with your situation.
4 Recruitment: Students and Volunteers
Survey your student situation. Finding, and/or developing, a core of 3-5 students will be essential. Gather them together and seek their ideas early on. They are the ones who will be most invested and the more they are involved the more ownership they will take. Students will come and go, so you need volunteer help to provide stability and continuity. In addition to the pastor, who else might be on staff who can contribute? Do you have members at church who are faculty or staff on campus? What about alumni? There might be other interested individuals beyond your congregation who may wish to help.
5 Locatedness: Creating Campus Presence
Students are more likely to attend activities they can walk to. Obviously, if your church is close to the campus, it will be easier for students to find you, but don’t let distance deter you. Turf is important, but you might have to create it. Students, especially freshman, often feel dislocated. Having a common weekly meeting time or place on campus is helpful. This creates a sense of locatedness, consistency, and familiarity. When you can establish a presence on campus, then you will hopefully be able to draw them out toward your church.
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Duluth @ University of Minnesota—Morris @ University of Minnesota—Twin Cities @ University of North Carolina—Greensboro @ University of North Dakota @ University of Northern Colorado @ University of Northern Iowa @ University of Oklahoma @ University of Pittsburgh
